Chapter 17

BRATT.

I poked at the wood as it started to crackle, the pleasant birch scent filling the room and making it feel more like a cold winter night rather than an evening in early fall. It made me feel comfortable and cozy, and I hoped it would do the same for Marley.

I set up some plush blankets on the couch for her to snuggle up in. My sister once told me that, after experiencing shock or trauma, a lot of people often felt cold once the adrenaline was out of their system and the threat was gone. Sometimes their body temperature would even drop as all their resources were diverted to the vital organs of the body, thus leaving the extremities to the cold.

I hoped the tea, the blankets, and the fire would help her feel safe.

After getting all that done, I heard the water cut off in the bathroom, so I flicked on the electric kettle. By the time she was walking down the hallway in her pajamas, the tea was already steeping.

Marley in pajamas was nothing short of adorable.

Olivia always